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Benzema stars as Madrid win 2022 UEFA Super Cup

Phenomenal
Phenomenal
Karim Benzema and David Alaba

Mueez Ajao

– Real Madrid beat Eintracht Frankfurt 2-0 to win the UEFA Super Cup at Helsinki’s Olympic Stadium on Wednesday night.

– The sides traded good chances in the early stages of the annual match between the winner of the Champions and Europa League, with Thibaut Courtois doing well to snuff out Daichi Kamada’s chance for Frankfurt on the break and Vinicius Junior’s goal-bound shot for Madrid swept off the line by Almamy Toure.

– Carlo Ancelotti’s LaLiga winners took the lead shortly before half-time through David Alaba, who tapped home from close range after Casemiro headed the ball back in front of a wide-open goal following a corner kick.

David Alaba

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– Benzema doubled the Spanish giants’ lead after the break with a first-time finish from Vinicius Jr’s cross to move second on Real’s all-time goalscoring list, overtaking Raul and behind only Cristiano Ronaldo who has 450 goals.

Karim Benzema

Benzema and Vinicius

– From there the minutes ticked away with Frankfurt unable to muster any response, while both Aurelien Tchouameni and Antonio Rudiger came on in the 85th minute to make their competitive Real Madrid debuts in triumphant fashion.

– Frankfurt, making their Super Cup debut, had moments of their own – the best when Daichi Kamada was sent through early on, but the Europa League winners looked second best once Real hit their stride.

– Vinicius and Benzema have forged an almost telepathic understanding in attack and combined on the left to free the Brazilian, who shifted the ball onto his right foot and forced Trapp into a fingertip save from distance.

Benzem and Vinicius

– From the resulting 37th-minute corner came Real’s breakthrough, with Alaba handed the simplest of finishes from close range.

– France forward Benzema has never won the Ballon d’Or but his form in helping Real to the Champions League and La Liga title means that may soon change.

– The 34-year-old almost made it two with a fizzed half volley that was narrowly off target.

– But Benzema did get the goal he needed to pull clear of Raul on the club’s all-time scoring charts in the 65th minute.

– Once again it saw him combine with Vinicius, the young forward this time finding Benzema pulling away just inside the box and the veteran beat Trapp with a snappy effort to put the game beyond Frankfurt.

Benzema and Vinicius

– Casemiro had earlier curled against the bar from distance and Ancelotti, who suggested this week it was possible for Real to win all six competitions they are in this season, was able to hand debuts to new signings Antonio Rudiger and Aurelien Tchouameni.

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